How do I get a marriage license in Louisiana?

Louisiana uses the Clerk of Court for most parishes and the Health Department in Orleans Parish.

1. Where to Apply

Any Louisiana Clerk of Court; in Orleans Parish, apply at the Louisiana Department of Health Vital Records office.

Both parties must appear together.

2. ID and Documents

Government-issued photo ID, certified birth certificate, and Social Security number.

Previously married: certified divorce decree or death certificate.

3. Fees

Approximately $27.50-$50 (Orleans ~$32; Jefferson ~$30; East Baton Rouge ~$27.50).

4. Waiting Period and Expiration

72-hour waiting period between license issuance and ceremony (La. Civ. Code art. 100; La. R.S. 9:241).

Waivable by court order showing good cause.

License valid 30 days from issuance.

5. Age and Residency

18 minimum. 16-17 require court approval plus parental consent — Louisiana raised minimums in 2019 (La. Civ. Code art. 90). Under-16 marriage prohibited.

No residency requirement.

6. Blood Test and Same-Sex Marriage

No blood test since 1986 (briefly re-required and re-eliminated).

Same-sex marriage legal since Obergefell (2015), despite Louisiana's prior constitutional ban (La. Const. art. XII, § 15).

This is legal information, not legal advice.